#FromScratch chronicles Stephie’s nutrition [r]evolution as she switches her thought process from “where should I eat” to “what should I eat”. Follow her series as she braves the supermarket, starts to cook and explore a new way of eating.

Today was a #FromScratch milestone day: SERIOUSLY! If my mom was still alive, I would have called to brag on myself.

Today, I started to climb my Nutritional Everest [and] I met with S-U-C-C-E-S-S! [Yes, I was a cheerleader.]

This is a magnificent challenge for me. In 2008, I had a heart transplant due to heart damage from radiation and chemotherapy as a child which means that I take immunosuppressive [anti-rejection] medications every 12 hours, 7 days/week, 52 weeks/year. These medications are a lifelong reality for me; a reality makes me more vulnerable to contagious infections; infections that can quickly become life-threatening. Thankfully, I have only been hospitalized one time for an infection gone rogue since discharge from transplant largely because I am mindful without being a full on obsessive-compulsive germaphobe!

I suppose you could say the world is my petri dish [and] I especially hate the invisible germ-ridden world of grocery store!

Mission:

1) Make a grocery list
2) Go to the grocery store
3) Make at least one meal/day focusing on breakfast [and] lunch first

Experience:

Grocery List: the result of a brainstorming session with Pat seeking to maximize the # of meals from a variety of healthy ingredients [and] given my hatred of grocery shopping, I seek to spare myself when I can.

My Nightmare Dressed Like a Daydream!

Well, I walked into Whole Foods list under my arm and my fingers on the ready of my iPhone with Pat serving as my go-to, phone-a-friend, lifeline as I faced some degree of overwhelm.

I made my way to the produce section only to run into a wall of greens: Organic 50/50 Blend, Baby Arugula, Sweet Baby Lettuces, Super Greens: Oh My!

Honestly, if Pat hadn’t fielded each of my many, many questions, I likely would have ended up with food that would have gone to waste as she then walked me through putting my lunch together. Another point worth mentioning is that I was laughing, and actually enjoying, being in the grocery store: NEVER happens!

Outcome[s]:

‘the Anti-Cancer Booty’

Lessons Learned:

I found a new food and I LOVE miso dressing*

Slice and dice vegetables when you get home and store in fridge so they are on hand ready prepped

Yesterday, I sat down at my desk, powered up my laptop, and BOOM, there it was: a calendar notification-impersonal that my mom died 2 years ago today. As if, I…

About the Author

Stephanie Zimmerman

She has been a cancer patient, survivor, heart transplant recipient and documentary film producer.

As a child, she was successfully treated for Ewing’s Sarcoma. Her experience led her to become a nurse serving the physical, psychosocial, and educational needs of children, adolescents, and their families along the cancer trajectory.

Stephanie holds a B.A. in Psychology from Furman University, and a B.S., and M.S in Nursing from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Florida. At Dartmouth, Stephanie helped establish the Survivorship Clinic with Eric Larsen, MD and Sara Chaffee, MD. This clinic provided ongoing personal support and education for childhood cancer survivors and their families.

In April 2008, Stephanie’s heart failed as a result of the radiation and Doxorubicin used to cure her Ewing’s Sarcoma as a child. She received a heart transplant at the Cleveland Clinic.

As a result of this experience, she co-produced an award winning documentary ‘Resilient: the Story of Late Effects of Cancer Treatment’, highlighting the challenges faced by survivors, families, and friends.

Stephanie resides in the metro Atlanta area with her husband and their 12-year-old-son. The Zimmermans enjoy everything from Formula One Racing and college & NFL football to go carting, ziplining, and cycling.